Imagine gliding through the city streets, ensconced in the finest leather, surrounded by polished silver champagne flutes and ambient mood lighting. Now, imagine the roof above you silently retracting, allowing the sun to warm your face and the sky to open up, all while your chauffeur remains in a closed, climate-controlled cabin ahead. This isn’t a fantasy; it’s the reality offered by one of the most exclusive and extraordinary automobiles ever built: the Mercedes-Maybach Landaulet.
This vehicle isn’t merely a car; it’s a statement of almost unimaginable luxury and bespoke engineering. It represents the absolute pinnacle of what Mercedes-Benz’s custom “Manufaktur” division can create when given a blank check and a mandate to build the undisputed king of the chauffeur-driven world.
This article delves deep into the world of the Landaulet, exploring its history, its staggering price, its mind-boggling features, and the rarefied air it breathes.
A Brief History: The Landaulet Legacy
The term “Landaulet” (or Landaulette) isn’t a modern marketing invention. It dates back to the horse-drawn carriages of the 18th and 19th centuries, which featured a convertible top over the rear passenger compartment while the driver remained exposed up front. This design was adopted by early automakers for ceremonial parades, allowing dignitaries to be seen and celebrated by the public.
Mercedes-Benz has a long history with Landaulet models, having built them for popes, monarchs, and heads of state for decades. The modern Maybach Landaulet revives this tradition for the 21st century, transforming it from a ceremonial vehicle into the ultimate private luxury experience.
Under the Hood: Power and Presence
While the rear cabin is the main event, the Landaulet is built upon a formidable foundation. It’s based on the immensely capable Mercedes-Maybach S650, which provides the powertrain and core chassis.
Powertrain: A hand-assembled, twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 engine generating a serene yet potent 621 horsepower and a earth-moving 737 lb-ft of torque. This power is delivered to the rear wheels via a 7-speed automatic transmission engineered for imperceptible shifts.
Performance: Despite its nearly 6,000 lb curb weight, the Landaulet can accelerate with surprising authority (0-60 mph is estimated around 4.5 seconds). However, its true purpose is effortless, silent cruising. The sophisticated suspension, with its MAGIC BODY CONTROL system, scans the road ahead and adjusts the dampers to iron out any imperfection, creating a “flying carpet” sensation.
The Main Attraction: The Convertible Rear Cabin
This is where the Landaulet transcends being a car and becomes a mobile luxury suite. The engineering challenge was immense: converting a monocoque sedan into a convertible without compromising structural rigidity, silence, or security.
The Roof Mechanism: A complex electrohydraulic system silently retracts the soft-top roof in under 20 seconds. The rear window remains in place, sealing the driver’s compartment from the elements and noise.
Unparalleled Opulence: The cabin is a testament to the Mercedes “Manufaktur” program. Passengers are treated to:
First-Class Rear Seats: Executive individual seats with massive adjustment, ventilation, massage, and rapid heating functions. They are arguably the most comfortable automotive seats ever made.
Lavish Materials: The entire interior is swathed in exclusive nappa leather, genuine macassar ebony wood, and polished aluminum. Customers could commission virtually any material they desired.
Champagne Flutes: A refrigerated compartment in the rear center console houses two dedicated sterling silver champagne flutes, because crystal simply wouldn’t do.
Privacy Partitions: An electric partition glass wall, with an intercom system, separates the passengers from the driver. It can be raised for total privacy or lowered for conversation.
The Price of Ultimate Exclusivity
So, what does this pinnacle of automotive luxury cost? The Landaulet was never a standard production model; it was a “bespoke commission.”
Original Sticker Price: When it was last offered, the starting price was a staggering €1.35 million in Europe (approximately $1.5 million+ at the time, before any taxes or customization).
The True Cost: The starting price was merely a baseline. Given its bespoke nature, the final price for a customer could easily soar to $2 million or more depending on their choices of materials, custom paint (e.g., solid gold flake), and additional security features.
Current Market Value: As an ultra-exclusive, limited-run hyper-luxury item, a used Mercedes-Maybach Landaulet retains its value exceptionally well. If one were to appear for sale today, it would likely command a price well above its original MSRP due to its rarity and status as a modern icon.
Pros and Cons: A Clear-Eyed View of Opulence
Pros:
Ultimate Exclusivity: Rarer than most hypercars, ensuring you will almost never see another one.
Unmatched Luxury: The combination of open-air freedom and Maybach-level comfort is utterly unique.
Engineering Marvel: A testament to Mercedes-Benz’s ability to solve immense engineering challenges.
Status Symbol: It is perhaps the most powerful automotive statement of wealth and taste available.
Cons:
Astronomical Cost: The price of entry is in a different universe.
Utterly Impractical: The roof storage eliminates most trunk space, and it requires a dedicated chauffeur.
Security Concerns: An open-top limousine attracts immense attention, not all of it welcome.
Not a Driver’s Car: It is designed solely to be driven in.
The Verdict: For Whom is the Landaulet?
The Mercedes-Maybach Landaulet is not for the typical billionaire. It is for a specific clientele:
Heads of State and Royalty: For ceremonial functions and secure, yet visible, transport.
The Ultra-Discerning Collector: Someone who owns everything and seeks the most unique automotive experiences.
The Ultimate Connoisseur: An individual for whom a standard Rolls-Royce or Maybach is simply too “common.”
It is less a mode of transport and more a mobile throne room—a symbol of achievement so profound that only a vehicle of this singular nature will suffice.
Final Thoughts
The Mercedes-Maybach Landaulet stands alone. In a world of mass-produced luxury, even at the highest levels, it remains a breathtaking example of bespoke craftsmanship and audacious engineering. It answers a question almost no one thought to ask: “What is beyond a Rolls-Royce?”
It is a rolling sculpture, a technological masterpiece, and the definitive word in open-air, chauffeur-driven luxury. It is, in every sense of the word, the ultimate automotive indulgence.
Your Next Step: While the Landaulet itself is out of reach for all but a few, the spirit of Maybach is alive and well. Explore the current Mercedes-Maybach lineup, such as the S-Class and GLS, to experience a taste of this unparalleled luxury and comfort in a more accessible, yet still supremely exclusive, package.